M2 April 2018 - LATEST ISSUE!
Light Phone 2 – Back To Basics
Do you exhibit the following symptoms: frequent phone checking? Notification withdrawals? Extended timeline scrolling? Excessive in-app purchases? Sore thumb joints? If you answered yes to one or more of the above, then perhaps you have a phone addiction. Without being facetious, the smartphone has undoubtedly revolutionised and streamlined our day-to-day processes. Internet banking, booking movie...
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Gadgets: Soundcast VG7
A good soundtrack can prove to be the missing ingredient that can enhance an experience. You’ve got the BBQ fired up, the steaks sizzling, brews in hand while the cooing of the Backstreet Boys Foo Fighters rallies the party together. Or maybe you’ve opted for a candlelit dinner for two and have Sade playing softly...
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Bathing Suites
No matter how grizzled and grubby you are from a day on the boat, the farm or the sports field, a session in a well equipped, aesthetically pleasing bathroom will restore you to your relaxed, suave self. Your bathroom should be your own private sanctuary where you indulge in familiar rituals – there is something...
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Grooming: Everything In Its Place
Start every day on the right foot by getting your regimen up to speed. A selection of stellar products in sleek packaging deserves to be put on display. Top Row (from left to right): Hugo Boss Urban Journey 75ml, $94.00; Hollister Free Wave For Him 50ml, $35.00; Montblanc Legend Night – EDP Natural Spray...
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How Great People Make A Great Company
Behind any successful business, you’ll usually find great people. The business I founded nine years ago, Pure SEO, is no exception. I’m constantly in awe of my team—and often wonder how I’m the one (sort of) running the company! So many of our people are passionate, committed and incredibly driven, which is what I attribute...
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Investing In Your Customers
When investing in your customers it’s important to have an engagement strategy that is specific to a variety of different groups. Different customers require different strategies – and some require more investment than others. When conducting your plans, it’s important to ensure that you’re talking to the right customer in the right way and making...
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Beyond The Bottle
Take a closer look at the only operating wine cooperage in the southern hemisphere. They say a fine wine only gets better with age, and with a rich history spanning over the past 168 years, Australia’s Yalumba winery is a testament to that. Nestled away in the Barossa Valley, Yalumba may just be the most historic...
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M2 Top 5 Picks Of The 88th Geneva International Motor Show
Held since 1905, the Geneva International Motor Show showcases exotic supercars, prototypes, the latest in technical innovation, and the best of the best in the automotive world. 1. Ferrari 488 Pista The Ferrari 488 Pista is powered by the most powerful V8 engine in the Maranello marque’s history and is the company’s special series sports...
Read MoreStyle
Levi’s: Not Just Jeans
The power of a brand is something that shouldn’t be underestimated. When you think of burgers, you think of McDonald’s. When you think of soft drinks, you think Coca-Cola. And when it comes to denim, Levi’s stands head and shoulders above everybody else. Founded in 1853 by German immigrant Levi Strauss, Levi’s has its roots in practicality,...
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Up Your Running Game With Reebok’s New Floatride Run Shoes
There is an important relationship between the fields of form and function. Ideally, the shape of an object should follow its intended function and purpose. What’s the point of having a flash looking supercar if the seats mess with your posture and the engine is the equivalent of a ride-on lawn mower? When it comes...
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Get Rugged Up For Autumn
With April underway and Autumn firmly taking root, it’s time to adjust your attire accordingly. Style-wise the colder months give you plenty more options to play with, so consider “rugging up” and adding more pieces to your normal daily fit. Overlaying some plaid with a bomber jacket and working in a scarf for good measure...
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Jack & Jones Street Wear Comes To New Zealand
When it comes to street wear, the best looks draw influence from a variety of styles but know how to balance it all in aesthetic harmony. New and exclusive to Farmers, Danish menswear brand Jack & Jones has just arrived on our shores in time for Autumn. Taking style design inspiration from a Danish brand...
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M2 PEAK PERFORMANCE powered Under Armour
The One To Watch – Opie Bosson
Opie Bosson Reins Supreme In The Twilight Of His Career In a sports world obsessed and put into context by statistics, the phenomenal haul of veteran Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson has to be studied twice to truly appreciate. In a 23 year career in the ruthless racing industry, the 37 year old has amassed over […]
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Unstoppable Force
Mike Horn has circumnavigated the globe more times than a NASA satellite. He’s climbed to the top of numerous 8000+ metre peaks (without oxygen), walked unassisted to both Poles and all the way around the North one, swam the Amazon, played with sharks and piranhas and even had a lap dance from a polar bear. With […]
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Winning Formula With Brendon Hartley
New Zealand boasts a rich history of names in the realm of motorsport – Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren, Possom Bourne, Greg Murphy, Scott Dixon and Mitch Evans are just a selection of names in the NZ motorsport pantheon. While Kiwi drivers have had success across a variety of motorsport competitions and rulesets, there is one […]
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Going For Gold – David Bishop
Ex-engineering student, sport fanatic and skilled gymnast, David Bishop is a perfect example of someone who emulates the good ol’ Kiwi spirit. He has a can-do attitude, that lovable personality and the type of ability any sportsman would love to encompass. He is a medal-winning gymnast, fitness coach, and with some big competitions coming up, […]
Read MoreWild
11 Deadliest Animals on the Planet, And How to Survive Them
The animal kingdom is a strange and wonderful place. From architects to mimes, assassins to philanderers, each animal has its own niche, a role and place. While we regularly encounter cats, dogs, birds and bugs, our chances of seeing dangerous animals are usually limited to visiting the zoo or watching The Discovery Channel. But while...
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Walk on the Wild Side
Expressionist American photographer, Aaron Siskind once said: ‘Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever…’ We bring you the iconic shots from The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017, developed and produced by the National History Museum, London. Capturing the most magical parts of...
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Behind The Lens: Open Ocean
The thought of delving into the deep and getting face-to-face with some of the world’s biggest and deadliest beasts is not something everyone can face. But it is a different story for underwater videographer and adrenaline junkie, Steve Hathaway. Fascinated about life under the surface, M2 dove straight in when the opportunity arose to talk...
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Surgeons of the Sea
Free Willy vs Jaws… who wins? Hollywood has altered our expectations about how this sort of apex predator duel would go down. Unless you spend more time watching documentaries than old movies on VHS, then the answer isn’t so clear. The biggest great white sharks can measure six metres long, weigh more than 2200 kilograms...
Read MoreSnow
STEF ZEESTRATEN: HALFPIPE HEDONIST
From one of the flattest countries in the world, to the sharp ascents of the Southern Alps, Dutch-born Stef Zeestraten has, as is his wont, carved a name for himself in New Zealand snowboarding folklore. Throughout his 17-year competitive career that saw him peak at 47th in the world in 2008, Zeestraten has followed the serious...
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The Mazda SKI-ACTIV Experience
I vividly remember the first time I actually put skis on and hit (quite literally) the snow. I was in my late teens and full of bravado; I headed to the top of the chairlift, strapped on two planks of wood and shot down the slope – straight into a tree. The sensation was both...
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New Zealand Snow Guide 2017
With a cold blast hitting much of New Zealand earlier than expected, ski fields the length of the country have been able to open with bonus time to spare. Seasoned snow bunnies know their spots on both islands, but for those looking to venture out and experience new terrain and thrills, where do you go...
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Climbing The Podium: Kiwis at the Winter Paralympics
The Winter Games, both Olympic and Paralympic, usually pass with minimal mention down under, but in the case of the compact Kiwi Paralympian team heading to South Korea this March, there’s reason to take notice. For a global event that is heavily dominated by northern hemisphere athletes, New Zealand participants more than hold their own....
Read MoreLeadership
Industry In Site
Over the past few years, we have seen a huge jump in the level of innovation, experience and concepts within the hospitality industry in this part of the world. No longer do we have to jump on a plane to get unique and exciting hospitality experiences. We are creating world-class cafes, restaurants, hotels and developments...
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Impact From Simplicity
In a world of exponential innovation, disruptive technologies and giddy cryptocurrency speculation a discussion about another KiwiSaver fund might seem a little vanilla. But after a few minutes with Simplicity founder, Sam Stubbs even the most finically unfocused would be hard pressed not to find excitement in compounded interest from saved fees, the growth of...
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The Chair: Rob Campbell
Over the last 30 years Rob Campbell is on the board of some of our largest companies across our largest industries. Currently Chair of Summerset Group Holdings (NZ) and WEL Energy, and a director of SKYCITY Entertainment Group and Precinct Properties as well a director of or advisor to a number of hedge and private...
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Richard Branson’s 75 Close Shaves
Unwavering, relentless persistence, those are the words I would use to describe Richard Branson. He’s built a global brand and personal lifestyle, from scratch that fascinates us with its continuous momentum, near misses and massive achievements. How many international entrepreneurs would be working deals and businesses in massive markets like the UK, the USA, Europe,...
Read MoreGadgets
The Tech Giant: Bringing The Forest To Amazon
Kindle, Amazon Web Services, Amazon Prime, Amazon Go, Alexa… Amazon is ever the innovator, and that’s not even considering the behemoth that is its online shopping platform. And, with CEO Jeff Bezos firmly set as the richest person on the planet, with a net worth of US$120.5 billion, Amazon has decided to celebrate its success...
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BOSE Introduces Tiny New Bluetooth Speaker
Bose has just introduced the SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker, its small but rugged portable speaker. It Measures just 9.5cms wide and deep, 3.8cms high, and weighing a mere 290 grams.. Tested beyond its IPX7 waterproof rating, the Micro lets you enjoy music, take and make calls, and access Siri or your Google Assistant The Micro is packed...
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A look at the Oppo R11s
Like the Android’s functionality but want the iPhone’s UX and UI? Oppo’s R11s is exactly what you’re after. Dubbed an “iClone”, because well, its interface looks unashamedly similar to Apple’s iOS, Oppo offers an iPhone-esque experience at a lesser cost. Specs Display-wise, the Oppo R11s has an 18:9 AMOLED FHD+ display, and has some respectable...
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PassivDom: 3D printed houses fit for any apocalypse or housing crisis
Housing Crisis. Did you feel that? That’s the sense of uneasiness, the power of two words that divided nation during election season. Let’s slice right through that however and take a look at PassivDom, a Ukrainian homebuilding start-up that uses 3D printing to construct slick, independent modular houses. Building a house is not just a...
Read MoreMandate
SQUISH STUDIO, Fogo Island
First settled in the mid-18th century, Tilting is known for its strong Irish culture and its recent designation by Parks Canada as a National Cultural Landscape District of Canada. The Squish Studio’s white angular form, sited on a rocky strip of coastline, that could rival Italy’s western coast, offers sharp contrast to the traditional vernacular...
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Editors Letter – August 2017
Unless, of course, you are a subscriber to the digital version of this magazine, chances are you’re reading this on good old, glossy 95GSM paper and four-colour ink based on a process that has a direct ancestor in the press that Johannes Gutenberg invented in 1440. Therefore, it would seem that we aren’t possibly in...
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STEF ZEESTRATEN: HALFPIPE HEDONIST
From one of the flattest countries in the world, to the sharp ascents of the Southern Alps, Dutch-born Stef Zeestraten has, as is his wont, carved a name for himself in New Zealand snowboarding folklore. Throughout his 17-year competitive career that saw him peak at 47th in the world in 2008, Zeestraten has followed the serious...
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AIRBUS – SCi-FI to reality
Picture the scene: you’ve just finished work. You and a dozen other professionals and students are standing around, gormlessly gazing into smartphones. A queue forms as the bus arrives and patrons tap their HOP cards as they begin to board. The location of your bus stop and the time you finish work means you can...
Read MoreMan on the Street
Man On The Street – Shawn Pope
Age: 46 Occupation: Director of Melba Group What’s your morning routine? Starts with coffee, preferably roasted by Espresso Workshop, it always has! What are the top three things on your bucket list? Spend a white Christmas with my family in the States, travel on the Orient Express (can’t wait to see St Petersburg), windsurf on...
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Man On The Street – Jordon Milroy
Age: 28 Occupation: Visionary and climber at Jordon’s Climb for Awareness What’s your morning routine? The alarm is set for 5.03am. I roll into the gym and do a full workout until 6.45 and then back home, where it’s coffee time! What are the top three things on your bucket list? To find a bucket…...
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Man On The Street – Justin Scott
Age: 26 Occupation: Production Coordinator at NZME What’s your morning routine? Wake up and hit the shower before my partner can. Jump out, whip on some clothes and make some breakfast and then off to work. Fast and furious. What are the top three things on your bucket list? 1. Buy a house in Auckland (like...
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Man on the Street – Jaheb Barnett
Age: 31 Occupation: Advertising Mad Man by day and men’s fashion blogger somewhere in-between What’s your morning routine? Typically it starts with a shock when the alarm goes off at 6am, then me jumping into my exercise kit and hitting F45 training for a workout. This is followed up with a coffee to kick-start the...
Read MoreDesign
Star Wars Laser Battle Drone
Propel (the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of radio-controlled devices) has recently released a new toy on the market, launching gaming and high-tech droning into the next galaxy. With The Last Jedi having hit the big screen last month, and more themed merchandise arriving on shelves around the country, Star Wars-mania is well and truly...
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Amazon Goes Green Spheres
Kindle, Amazon Web Services, Amazon Prime, Amazon Go, Alexa. Amazon are ever the innovators and that’s not even considering the behemoth that is their online shopping platform. And, with CEO Jeff Bezos firmly set as the richest person on the planet with a net worth of $120.5 billion (USD), Amazon have decided to celebrate their...
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The Boaties Dream – Natural Selection
Have you got a couple $100 million spare change handy? Perhaps you’re an aspiring Bond villain? Or maybe you’ve been implicated in the Panama Papers? Well, you’re in luck – Netherlands-based yacht design company Sinot’s latest concept design, Nature is a vessel ripped straight out of a Putin daydream. It’s called Nature for a reason;...
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To The Manor Reborn AKA Unearthing Diamonds
The opportunity arose to visit the Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works in Coventry, and I seized it with both hands. Not only would it give me the chance to pore over such iconic cars as the E-Type and Land Rover Series 1 , but it also came with the offer of being chauffeur driven there and back in a...
Read MoreDeep Dives
All Hail Our Secret Government
It’s a golden time for lobbyists at the moment. We’ve just had a change in government and that means it’s time for everything to change, come what may. Duh, it has to – as the last guys obviously got every single thing wrong! But there’s a slight problem in that, aside from a couple of...
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The Fight For Gender Diversity – An Ad Man’s POV
So, a high-powered panel of female leaders featuring Theresa Gattung, Justine Smyth, Tracey Cross, Naomi Ballantyne and Linda Meade were at the M2woman Journey to Excellence forum recently. I think it’s fair to say that the gist of their forum was; “we want moregender equality in the workplace! Now, dammit! Now!” Huh? Is this really...
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Walk on the Wild Side
Expressionist American photographer, Aaron Siskind once said: ‘Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever…’ We bring you the iconic shots from The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017, developed and produced by the National History Museum, London. Capturing the most magical parts of...
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Climbing The Podium: Kiwis at the Winter Paralympics
The Winter Games, both Olympic and Paralympic, usually pass with minimal mention down under, but in the case of the compact Kiwi Paralympian team heading to South Korea this March, there’s reason to take notice. For a global event that is heavily dominated by northern hemisphere athletes, New Zealand participants more than hold their own....
Read MoreCover Stories
David Beckham’s Guide To Success – Incredible Lessons for Success On and Off the Field
The prototypical script for a famous footballer goes something like this: You play 10 years (if you’re lucky). Possibly win a league title in the process (if you’re lucky). Finally, you negotiate a broadcasting career where you play pundit and banter with other ‘legends of the sport’ (that is, if you’re lucky). You then retire for...
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Chris Pine, A Lead Team Player
Chris Pine is the classic ladies man, designed in a lab somewhere as a weaponised human being with the set purpose of breaking hearts wherever he goes. Born in Los Angeles to Robert Pine and Gwynne Gilford, both of whom who are actors (Robert was a CHiPs co-star). It seems natural in hindsight that the...
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Double Edged: The Return of Blade Runner
We’re treading on hallowed ground now. We all knew that one day Hollywood’s rummaging hand would light upon a classic like Blade Runner. They’ve already made the right first move by not rebooting everything from scratch. The second move they need to make is far more nuanced. Just a little background for readers who are...
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Hugh Jackman – Hollywood’s Favourite Wolf
They say nice guys finish last. Hugh Jackman says otherwise. The do-it-all megastar and face of Montblanc is widely regarded as the nicest man in showbiz. A jack of all trades and master of it all. TV? He’s done it. Hollywood? A bankable star and A-lister. Broadway? Conquered it and added not one, but two Tony...
Read MoreSuccess
The importance of business values
A crucial process your business can go through is creating a set of values. I believe having a well thought out set of values is just as important as a business strategy. But putting them down on paper and ticking them off the list is not enough – you and your team must live and...
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Optimise Work to Make More Time For You
As we celebrate the right to a 40-hour working week this Labour Weekend – a precious three days off! – it’s time to look at how to make the rest of the year work for you. It may not be possible to turn your job into one long weekend, but here are some tips to...
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Playing the Perfect Host
I recently had a chat with Dominic Bowden, (X-Factor, Dancing With the Stars, The Bachelor) about our shared connection with ‘anamorphic’ artist Edgar Mueller, who recently passed through the country as part of the launch for Mazda’s new CX-5. I had the ignoble task of holding Mueller up in the departures lounge for an interview...
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Five Free Ways to Market Your Business
When starting out in business, you barely have the resources for your own desk, let alone a marketing budget. Fortunately, marketing doesn’t have to take up a large chunk of your capital. You can increase brand presence and drive customer acquisition without spending a cent. It’s not top secret, but many entrepreneurs underestimate the importance...
Read MoreAmazing Photos
Walk on the Wild Side
Expressionist American photographer, Aaron Siskind once said: ‘Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever…’ We bring you the iconic shots from The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017, developed and produced by the National History Museum, London. Capturing the most magical parts of...
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Long Live The Silver Screen
Think about the magic and excitement of driving up to a local parking lot, ready to watch the latest feature film in the comfort of your own car. The light from the projector beams a dancing stream of images onto the giant screen ahead, while kids laugh and play beneath the screen. American-based photographer Lindsey...
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What Lies Beneath
From growing up in a small town in North Canterbury, to hosting his very own series, picked up by a global documentary giant – National Geographic – Ellis Emmett truly is an inspiration to get out there and get stuck into something you love and turn your ideas and dreams into a reality. We manage...
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The Art Of Fakery
Austrian photographer Gregor Sailer is a changer of landscapes, and a tricker of minds. Photographs in his latest series, The Potemkin Village, strike a sense of confusion… but not everything is as it may seem. While growing up in Tyrol, Austria, Gregor Sailer started taking snaps at a young age and has not stopped...
Read MoreSport
Michael Venus – New Zealand Tennis’ Shinning Star
Uncommon, like the generational flash of a passing comet or a fleeting eclipse, Michael Venus is New Zealand’s latest tennis shining star and in 2017 became the first Kiwi to win a Grand Slam doubles title since 1979. At the tender age of 30, the Auckland-born and bred resident took out the Roland Garros title...
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The Monthly Sports Agenda – August 2017
MAYWEATHER V MCGREGOR Not many of us wouldn’t get in the ring with Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather for a reported $180 million US and loudmouth Irishman Conor McGregor has the chance to make some dubious history. The fight between the undefeated Mayweather and the UFC drawcard is set to break all sorts of commercial records and...
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Joseph Parker – Fighting Spirit
It’s known as “The Sweet Science”. Where mere millimeters mean the difference between slipping a punch or waking up gazing at the bright lights of a stadium ceiling. Where the right amount of torque and placement decides whether or not a punch becomes a knockout blow. Where timing is the difference between a successful counter punch...
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The Monthly Sports Agenda
It’s business as usual in September, and Australia is the place to be for sporting action in this part of the world, as their most supported codes wind up their seasons. Elsewhere on the globe, New York is hosting two events of international significance with records to be broken. NRL FINALS SERIES September is the...
Read MoreBucket List Experiences
11 Most Dangerous Sports
Here are some of the more dangerous activities you could attempt if 1 – you are crazy seriously crazy, 2 – you like to live (or die) on the edge, 3 – you still have insurance cover for your particular dangerous sport and 4 – you believe what you are doing will cure the hiccups....
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Destination Du Jour – BULGARI Bali Resort
Imagine waking up to the calming sound of waves washing upon the shore; birds and wildlife chattering in the distance; and smelling the earthy scent of the native forest as you slowly come to… Home of the spiritual getaway, Bali has become one of those destinations that every second person has been to, and for...
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Three Types of Texas
Weightlessness, emptiness and feeling so miniscule compared to the giant world that I stare back at, there is a thick silence and all I can hear is my own breath and the mechanical sounds created from my spacesuit… “The Eagle has landed” … goose bumps cover my body from head to toe and my daydreaming thoughts...
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Views From The Top
A beautiful image of a polar bear leaping across a stream of crystal-clear blue water. A gathering of squalling seagulls above a passing boat. A birds-eye view of a basketball game. These are the winning photos of last year’s SkyPixel’s Best Aerial Photos award. Sometimes, a photo is more than just a photo. Sometimes, it...
Read MoreWheels
Mercedes – AMG C 43 Cabriolet, Disturbing the Peace
Cabriolets, soft tops, dropheads, open tops or convertibles, call them what you may, but for me, they always bring on a sense of fun, leisure and, when outside the confines of city walls, an all-important, fresh-air freedom. The simple process of removing a vehicle’s metal (or fabric) ceiling is like unlocking the shackles of life,...
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Tesla Model S P100D: the Fidget Spinner
Unless you have your head in the sand, it’s hard to ignore the seemingly overnight success of the fidget spinner. Virtually everywhere you look, kids (and adults too) have a little device whizzing around on their fingertips, and these ‘toys’ that come in various materials and a vast array of colours have become the must-have...
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WHEELS News
Our pick of what’s hot, fun and quite simply bizarre. Coupe or Spyder – why not BOTH? McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has created a unique MSO R Coupé and a Spider for one customer. The two MSO R cars, which have the same external, internal and mechanical specifications, are finished in a striking yet understated...
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Wheels News – August 2017
Aston Martin Go ahead, drool, as Aston Martin reveals more ‘Valkyrie’ secrets.Rightfully there is a thirst for more knowledge about the Aston Martin Valkyrie – so here’s what we know so far. The Hypercar is powered by a 6.5L V12 (and some electric wizardry) that will produce 1000hp. Two massive Venturi tunnels feed the rear...
Read MoreHealth
Healing without Scars
Be it from when you tripped and fell as a kid, an accidental burn, or if you got your appendix removed, scars can be rather unpleasant and unsightly. And while scars can’t be completely removed at present, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Dermatology have found a way to make fresh wounds heal...
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5 Food Tips That Will Make you Look & Feel Better
You are what you eat. So if you’re like me you’re pretty quick, but mostly garbage. That doesn’t need to be the case, however! There are plenty of easy things we can do with our diet that will make us look and feel like winners. BREAKFAST FOR ENERGY Make sure you start the day with...
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5 ways to cope with Stress
Stress is the body’s way of responding to life’s demands. While necessary for our survival, in modern times stress has become one of society’s main health challenges contributing to a raft of health conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, adrenal fatigue, hypertension, obesity, anxiety, depression and even cancer. Short term, stress is great for helping us...
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12 Ways to Prevent Prostate Cancer
With an annual death toll numbering some 500 men, prostate cancer claims more lives than the road toll. Not only is it the most common type of cancer found in men with more than 2,500 new diagnoses each year, it is also the third most common cancer contributing to premature death among males. To address...
Read MoreEntertainment
A Tribute to the Man From Saint Who Would be Sir
Recently Sir Roger Moore, Bond star and UNICEF Ambassador, passed away after a short fight with cancer. His family left a letter stating: “The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone.” The message continued: “We know our own love and admiration will...
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Gregg Hurwitz
Gregg Hurwitz – the New York Times bestselling writer of 19 novels, numerous screenplays for films and a New York Times Bestselling graphic novelist for 14 comic books – has definitely hit the ground running when it comes to producing top-quality, thrilling fiction. With multiple award nods under his belt – such as a two-time...
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Forza Motorsport 7 Review
700 cars. 700 cars!!!!! I’m never going to have the time to race in 700 cars. That’s a huge number. These aren’t just 100 cars with 7 slight variations to each – these are 700 unique vehicles. A few days back my go to car was a 1932 Ford De Luxe coupe. Today it’s the...
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Three To See This October
Blade Runner 2049 It’s not every year an old beloved franchise is resuscitated to sell a couple more movie tickets. Actually, wait, it is… but this one’s different, I swear. Ryan Gosling picks up the reigns as the new Blade Runner taking out replicants. It plays with the themes of the original and advances the mystery....
Read MoreFood
Recipe: Butter Infused With All Natural Ingredients
When it comes to summer food there is one thing many of us look forward to all year – BBQs. Perfectly cooked steak, fresh prawns and locally caught fish with summer salads and perla potatoes. It’s a summer tradition, really! Award-winning chef Owen Sinclair has created a must-have for your next BBQ with Flavour Fiend...
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Where Our Chefs Eat: The Ultimate Mans Guide
There’s nothing worse than pining after a dish all day, only to be miserably disappointed when your order doesn’t quite live up to the expectations. With a dizzying array of options dotted around the city, it’s hard to know where to even begin. To avoid a serious case of food disappointment, we spoke to some...
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Discover Your New Local – Ben Bayly’s Less Obvious Guide to the Best Restaurants
We live in a golden age of chefs. Between the move towards consumers seeking a more personal and authentic dining experience, Auckland is bubbling over with cooking legends who not only practice world-class gastronomy but also manage to remain authentic with more focus on craft than profit. Ben Bayly, one of the judges on New...
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The Burger Battle
Each week seems to bring another burger joint opening, but hey, we’re not complaining. But with each new opening comes a new concept, so which fusion, style or flavour do you pick? Better Burger These guys seem to be taking on the city, with the recent opening of their Sylvia Park store showing they have...
Read MoreWine
Fizz The Season
Often referred to as the elixir of the gods and quite possibly the magic potion from Gaul that often appeared in Asterix comics, Champagne has long been the celebratory drink for all occasions. To a large part, the wine makers use predominantly Pinot Noir grapes mainly from the Champagne region mixed with Chablis from the...
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Wine Guide: Beyond Borders
A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of south-west France. The area produces predominantly red wines, which the English will often refer to as Clarets. These red Bordeaux wines are generally made from a blend of grapes, with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot being the most common. While the Bordeaux...
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Bollinger: The Nectar of the Gods
Champagne has never been just a wine. It has long been recognised as something special, and until recent times, something that has only been enjoyed by nobility. Often referred to as, “the Nectar of the Gods”. hampagne can only be called Champagne if it comes from the Champagne region – an area that rarely sees...
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The ‘Holy’ Trinity
We get amongst the vines and learn what goes into making Trinity Hill wines Winemaking Wizardry Looking for a new wine to try out? Look no further. We headed down to the Hawke's Bay and caught up with Trinity Hill Wines Chief Winemaker Warren Gibson for a taste test of five of the best wines...
Read MoreCoach Your Way To Success
The Business of Retirement: Stage 1 – Realisation
I remember when I was young thinking how old my parents were and how I could never imagine getting to their age. Now here I am, older than they were at the time. Like many people I had my life planned out – go to school, go to University, get a job to make money...
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Mind Power
Your life and your world is a consequence of what you think. You may not realise your mind is an incredibly powerful tool and even the Einstein’s and Hawking’s were using less than 10% so learn how to use it and enjoy unbelievable success. I have just had the most wonderful weekend learning “how to...
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What it takes to live in the entrepreneurial world and survive there
I’ve heard it said that just 8% of the population have a truly entrepreneurial mind; we see the world differently to the so-called “normal” people. My good friend and business partner, Tony Falkenstein, says that we see the future, the way things could be. Where other people plot and plan, we go straight to the...
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5 Tech Trends That Will Disrupt Kiwi Marketing
M2 Coach Podcast – 5 Tech Trends That Will Disrupt Kiwi Marketing Let’s face it, there aren’t many aspects of our lives that technology hasn’t touched. This month, I caught up with some of my friends in the marketing world for their take on the top technology trends that are set to disrupt Kiwi marketing....
Read MoreLuxury Watches
The Race Against Time
When you think of watch makers you might think of far-flung European cities with gingerbread houses and a proliferation of bicycles. Definitely your first thought won’t stray toward our very own City of Sails. But it should, because we have creatives in Auckland who are starting to make waves. One of them is the father-son...
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Montblanc Picks of 2017
Montblanc 1858 Automatic Evoking designs and themes of timepieces past is a formula that can either work fantastically or come across as contrived. Montblanc’s 1858 collection, in particular the Montblanc 1858 Automatic, tastefully pays tribute to the Minerva chronographs of the 1930s, while making subtle changes for the sensibilities of the modern day. A deep...
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Omega Picks of 2017
Seamaster Planet Ocean Sporting an eye-catching navy blue and burnt orange colourway, “Big Blue” as Omega have nicknamed it, is bold in style, clever in design and grabs attention in a manner vastly different to your standard luxury watches. Omega have springboarded off the success of last year’s Planet Ocean “Deep Black” and have dived deeper...
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Ulysse Nardin Picks of 2017
Classic Manufacture “Grand Feu” Emphasis on the perfection of finer details showcases a commitment to precision and meticulousness – everything expected from a true upper tier watch. The Ulysse Nardin Classic Manufacture is exemplary in this field with enamel detailing taking centrestage on the dial. Intensive effort goes into achieving the enameling detailing; Ulysse Nardin...
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New Whisky Alert: Ardbeg An Oa
It’s Friday, so what do you have lined up tonight? Because heads up for Whiskey lovers, a new Single Malt hit NZ yesterday, the Ardbeg An Oa. Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks, Dr Bill Lumsden, says, “Ardbeg An Oa’s rounded and subtly smoky aromas reflect all the contrasts of the Mull...
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Clink Clink Drink
Whiskey has been a passion of mine for a while now. Way before I started my Instagram, @clinkclinkdrink, I would enjoy a regular dram with my dad. Since then I have embraced the full definition of what whiskey can be – Scotch, Irish, bourbon, rye, even New Zealand and Japanese. Whiskey is great neat, but...
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Taste Of Summer
Seek out those who embrace the unusual, and you’ll find that Hendrick’s Gin is much loved by a handful of curious individuals all over the world. infused with the remarkable Bulgarian Rosa Damascena and specially selected cucumbers, Hendrick’s Gin has a unique botanical signature that sets it apart from the rest. The master distiller carefully crafts...
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Barrel Owners Club
I think we’ve all considered what it would be like to make our own wine. Having rows of grapes stretching across acres of Otago land. While you may not be able to uproot your family and lifestyle to chase idyllic rural dreams you may be able to get in on this personalised wine making business....
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Kiwi Author Sells Book Rights to Hollywood
Ben Sanders was not a name I had heard of when I saw his books in stores for Christmas. So after a few sightings, I got the message and read American Blood. I liked it. The hero, Marshall, wasn’t as arrogant as Jack Reacher, and not as active as Jason Bourne. He was a good...
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The Author To Know: David Lagercrantz
Best-selling author of I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic and 11 other well-known titles, Lagercrantz is a man who wears numerous hats. One moment he is a journalist, the next he is a biographer, the next a ghost-writer, then a novelist. A man of sheer talent and verve. Born in Solna in 1962 to Olof Lagercrantz (a...
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Gregg Hurwitz
Gregg Hurwitz – the New York Times bestselling writer of 19 novels, numerous screenplays for films and a New York Times Bestselling graphic novelist for 14 comic books – has definitely hit the ground running when it comes to producing top-quality, thrilling fiction. With multiple award nods under his belt – such as a two-time...
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Stephen King – Author Credit
The infamous 1986 horror novel IT will be seen in a different light the movie hits the big screens this September. We hear from the man, Stephen King himself, about what he thinks of the upcoming iteration. When you watch a film based on one of your books, like IT, do you find yourself thinking...
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Book reviews – March 2018
By Tim Lawrence I haven’t read the first two Orphan X novels, but I did read and review another Hurwitz novel last year, Tell No Lies, where I said: “ The story is set in San Francisco, the hero is a rich kid with a tough, wealthy mother; he gives up everything to marry his...
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The Books To Read
Typhoon Fury Clive Cussler Juan Cabrillo and the corporation are off on another adventure, this time sees them in Asia. A good old fashioned good guy versus the bad guys with the villain being tough and not to be messed with. This is the 9th Oregon files book, those familiar with the series will know...
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THREE BOOKS TO READ THIS MONTH
Three Days And A Life Pierre Lemaitre Reading this book for me was like watching a great arthouse film. Lemaitre, who Stephen King says is “a really excellent suspense novelist”, had me gripped from the opening pages. I really felt for our lead character and wondered what was he going to do. How do you...
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Books: Must Reads For April
Gallery Of The Dead Chris Carter Robert Hunter, the insomniac genius detective, is back with a novel that fulfills the cover’s proclamation that it is ‘as addictive as a box-set’. I agree, I was bingeing this book at every opportunity. Excellent characters and plot. The Caller Chris Carter Don’t be put off by the tacky...
Read MoreM2 MARCH 2018 issue
Comvita – Manuka Honey
More than just your favourite spread, if you are unaware of the benefits of manuka honey, then you have clearly not been listening to us share about its health benefits recently. So, we’ll say it again… listen up, and take notes. In 1974, Comvita® founders Claude Stratford and Alan Bougen believed in the power of nature. Four...
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Man on the Street – Callum Sweeney
Age: 24 Occupation: Marketer at Bookabach and Influencer at Clink Clink Drink What’s your morning routine? I wake up, shower, do my hair and take care of my skin, get dressed, get in a good breakfast and a coffee (or two) and then head to work. Sometimes I will work on my own projects for...
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Films To See This March
Death Of Stalin In cinemas March 15 Steve Buscemi (Pulp Fiction, Boardwalk Empire) stars in this political satire as Nikita Khrushchev, dealing with the instability of the Soviet Union in the wake of Joseph Stalin’s death. Beautifully shot, and sprinkled with humorous nuances, the film ended up being banned in Russia and several CIS states...
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Best Foot Forward
Hit the ground running this season with a new pair of boots. Whether you wear casual or a more formal look to work, or even out in the evenings, now is a good time to be looking at the new boots hitting the market. As the seasons change from summer to autumn, we start to...
Read MoreM2 FEBRUARY 2018 issue
Transparent Pods To Solve Future Traffic Jams
We’re lucky that here in New Zealand “gridlock” means that you’re only slightly inconvenienced and might end up at work late an hour or so. In places like China, “gridlock” means that you might end up stuck in traffic for 11 days – seriously, Google it. Traffic and major cities go together like hand in...
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Taking Off Into The Future
On the 7th of January, SpaceX launched the uncrewed Zuma spacecraft into the stratosphere in accordance with the United States government. With 21 successful launches under their belt, SpaceX’s revolutionary, fully reusable rockets are able to create a safe travel path for future rockets. This impressive development in technology could possibly allow greater developments and...
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Jamie Dornan – The Colour In The Grey
“His eyes are intense, probing, demanding even. I stretch out beside him, feeling loose-limbed, my bones like jelly, but I’m relaxed, deeply relaxed.” – E. L. James, Fifty Shades of Grey. As I write this piece, I’m trying my absolute best to not cry of laughter in the office. Never in my wildest dreams would...
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Robotic Pillow
If an average night’s sleep is equivalent to eight hours, then you spend a third of your life asleep. Gee whiz. So why not amp up the quality of sleep to increase the quality of your waking moments? Counting sheep, tossing and turning, intrusive thoughts are part of the pursuit of the land of nod,...
Read MoreM2 JANUARY 2018 issue
A Flash Of Inspiration
Thirty Years of Design Passion perfectly describes a very special anniversary at Matisse. It wasn’t always easy. While discussing the development of his moulded plywood chairs, Charles Eames noted “Yes it was a flash of inspiration… A kind of thirty year flash.” When I look back on thirty years of bringing the world’s greatest furniture designs...
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Understand your 10 motivators
When you do, you will be more successful, do projects that make you happy, and understand more what kind of people you need to partner with. I have listed the 10 most significant motivational drivers. These can be singular influences or – for most of us, in most situations – these can form a cocktail...
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2017 – The Year That Was
Another year over, another year wiser… Or not, as the case may be. If 2016 saw a plethora of, erm, questionable choices from a global perspective – Trump and Brexit, in particular, spring to mind – then 2017 has been the year when those choices have really begun to hit home… January The world watches,...
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Health News – January 2018
It’s the season of summer sports, so grab your mates and head out to the tennis, races or polo this January. ASB Classic Experience the violence of the swing, the gun-shot thwack of racquet meeting rubber and green felt and the energy of the players as they run, skid and scramble around the court at...
Read MoreM2 DECEMBER 2017 issue - Man of the Year issue
Behind The Lens: Open Ocean
The thought of delving into the deep and getting face-to-face with some of the world’s biggest and deadliest beasts is not something everyone can face. But it is a different story for underwater videographer and adrenaline junkie, Steve Hathaway. Fascinated about life under the surface, M2 dove straight in when the opportunity arose to talk...
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Christmas Gift Guide
We bring you some of our favourite pieces that will make great gifts for the season of giving. The art of gifting At Gift Bird we make giving easy. We’ve joined with Forest & Bird, you buy and we donate to the birds – a gift that goes on giving. Buy one Box and, go in...
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Health News – December 2017
It’s getting to that time of the year where people are starting to make their resolutions, so get a jump-start on yours with these essentials. Adidas X David Beckham Have you ever heard of the ‘runner’s high’? That rush of endorphins? That feeling of invincibility when running? Imagine getting that runner’s high whilst running on...
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Game Reviews December 2017
Assassins Creed Origin From: Ubisoft Platform: Xbox One, PC, PS4 You slowly look to the left, spotting your target. Unable to fully scope the terrain you let your pet eagle scout the area from above and highlight enemies for you. Scaling the nearby building you wait for your target to get near. You dive towards...
Read MoreM2 NOVEMBER 2017 issue
MEET THE MAKER – David Alexander Flinn
With the addition of the new fragrance ‘Y’ to the YSL catalogue, the well-seasoned fragrance house teams up with three different artists and a talented creative team to form a campaign that celebrates the makers out there. Meet David Alexander Flinn, a sculptor, filmmaker, artist and model; YSL talks to him about what motivates, challenges...
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Life is a sales pitch: get where you want to be – faster
I was fortunate enough to head to Vegas for the Connor vs Mayweather fight. It will go down as the best trip of my life. I bought tickets to the fight but the goal for the trip was to meet both the fighters. It was an ambitious goal. But not only did I watch the...
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Using the Wacom Cintiq Pro 16″
The Cintiq name is one that’s always bandied around creative circles with a certain amount of jealousy. If there’s one thing that creatives covet it’s top shelf tech from Wacom. Until now my wife and I have gotten by on a entry level Bamboo Pen & Touch and a nice Intuos Pro. With these sorts...
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BMW M2 LCI – a Vermicious Knid
Vermicious knids are huge dark egg-shaped beings that live on the planet Vermes 184,270,000,000 miles away from earth and for some reason, they are the first things that came to mind when I drove BMW’s new M2 rocket ship. It’s obviously not their shape that made me think of them, it’s the ‘fact’ that they...
Read MoreM2 OCTOBER 2017 issue
Calling all Meat Lovers
What could a man want more than all-you-can-eat ribs? Look no further than The Culpeper, perfectly situated right in the heart of Auckland City’s Princess Wharf. Another great eatery by the Nourish Group, who are already well known for top restaurants such as Euro, Fish and Crab Shack, to name a few. With Head Chef...
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How to Future Proof A Generation
remember my friends earnestly telling me that the Xbox 360 and PS3 were going to be the end of the console generation. By the time our internet got good enough they’d tell me, the PS3 would be nothing more than a streaming device outsourcing the processing to some server farm on the opposite side of...
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The Working Style – Style Update
Summer is only a few months away and it is time to look at updating our warm-weather wardrobe. We had a chat with Working Style’s Creative Director, Karl Clausen about their new Spring / Summer ‘17 collection and what trends we should be keeping an eye on as Summer arrives. How long do you spend...
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Bollinger: The Nectar of the Gods
Champagne has never been just a wine. It has long been recognised as something special, and until recent times, something that has only been enjoyed by nobility. Often referred to as, “the Nectar of the Gods”. hampagne can only be called Champagne if it comes from the Champagne region – an area that rarely sees...
Read MoreM2 SEPTEMBER 2017 issue
Wheels News – September 2017
Pictured: Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Family Across the street, but way up-market Aston Martin finally has the home it deserves. Situated in the new nine-level, 5900-square metre Giltrap Group headquarters, Aston Martin Auckland offers the floor space to showcase up to 15 vehicles as well as a contemporary service centre, modern delivery suite and two luxurious...
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Style News – September 2017
ARMANI CODE While the original Armani Code, with its all-black bottle and dark-hued ad campaigns, scream mystery, the new Armani Code Colonia bring a fresh look that is sleek and elegant. The campaign, fronted by Chris Pine, combines a masculine allure with a modern elegance. “I believe that a man is elegant when he is...
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Three Movies to See in September 2017
Dunkirk blew people away and was a surprise hit in New Zealand, but now it’s time to look forward to what September has to offer. IT You know that movie still of the clown peaking out from a storm drain at a little kid? This is the reboot of that, cashing in on peoples fear...
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Our Amazing World
Sunrise Through the Solar Arrays On July 26, 2017, a member of the Expedition 52 crew aboard the International Space Station took this photograph of one of the 16 sunrises they experience every day, as the orbiting laboratory travels around Earth. One of the solar panels that provides power to the station is seen in the upper...
Read MoreM2 AUGUST 2017 issue
Man on the Street – Roko Babich
Age: 36 Occupation: Head of Production NZME Vision What do you have for breakfast? Homemade muesli, fruit and a long black. What is your morning routine? Wake up at 5, hit the gym, then off to work by 7:30. What’s your dream car? If I had a 1967 Shelby GT500 sitting in the garage I’d...
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Fashion Trend – Winter Gettin’ you Down?
You either love ’em or hate ’em, but puffer jackets have been finding their way into the more ‘accepted’ side of the fashion scene lately. But when it comes to the fact that, yes, it is cold outside, you will find there are, in fact, some pretty cool options out there. Is your finger on...
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The Future of New Zealand Architecture
New Zealand currently has 14 projects shortlisted in the World Architecture Festival, which is judging over 500 projects from around the world. We have plenty of completed projects being judged, but I like to look to the future at what we have changing our public spaces in the near future. Four future projects are currently...
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Dua Lipa is ‘hotter than hell’
Dua Lipa is hitting all the right notes with her debut eponymous album and she’s definitely got our attention. The 20-year-old British pop singer has gained a spot on BBC’s coveted Sound Of 2016 list and is racking up a fair few views on Youtube her smash hit “Be the One”, currently sitting at a...
Read MoreM2 JULY 2017 issue
400 Years of Barbados in 48 Hours
Generally, when you travel halfway around the world to go somewhere, you will spend more than 48 hours there, but Barbados is one of those places that is so condensed and rich with culture and heritage that even after a couple of days there you will have a part of it in your blood. Along...
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Must Watch Movies List – July 2017
After a month of big movies like Wonder Woman and Transformers: The Last Knight, July shows no signs of slowing the tempo. Marvel keeps the pace with its next step in the Marvel Universe with Spiderman, while War for the Planet of the Apes brings the third movie in the Apes Trilogy. But the question...
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Health News July 2017
Keep yourself on top of your health this winter from the inside out. We Run the Night One of the most thrilling things about running is letting go, taking a left instead of a right and exploring your city. This does come with some, obstacles…weaving through pedestrians, dodging traffic and racing street lights. In doing...
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Starry Starry Night – Rolls-Royce Wraith
In 1971, Don McLean penned the lyrics to Vincent. Inspired by a book he read, it is a haunting melody that is a tribute to the life of Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh. The opening line ‘Starry starry night’ (the relevance of this I’ll get to soon) refers to the oil on canvas Van...
Read MoreM2 JUNE 2017 issue
Man On The Street – Shaun McGivern
Age: 39 Occupation: Partner at Haigh Lyon Lawyers What do you have for breakfast? Essentially birdseed so homemade muesli or Porridge or a combination of whatever is left of those and whatever I am making for the boys What is your morning routine? Monday and Friday is the gym and Tuesday to Thursday is...
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Man On The Street – Mark Jackson
Age: 41 Occupation: Director of Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen. I have a smoothie for breakfast. Kale, nuts, and protein, frozen berries and banana. And leave a little glass of it in the fridge for my daughter. What is your morning routine? Sneak out of bed. Because my daughter and wife are still asleep. We still...
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Simple Pleasures – The new CX-5 Launch
Let’s face it, modern everyday life can be pretty busy. Between the necessity of work and the demands that come with family and friends, there seems to be so much pressure to do things. Time appears to be going by so fast (even speeding up) and very little of it is spent metaphorically speaking ‘silently...
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Where Our Chefs Eat: The Ultimate Mans Guide
There’s nothing worse than pining after a dish all day, only to be miserably disappointed when your order doesn’t quite live up to the expectations. With a dizzying array of options dotted around the city, it’s hard to know where to even begin. To avoid a serious case of food disappointment, we spoke to some...
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